Prop for trunk compartment lids



Jan. 14, 1964 A. M. Dame, sR

Paap Fora TRUNK summum uns Filed 001'.. 16. 1952' l law irre/Mfrs United States Patent O 3111639 PRG? FR TRUNK CQMPARTMENT UDS Anthony M. Denic, Sr., 4142 Sweet Gum Drive, St. Louis, Mo. Filed Get. 16, 1962., Ser. No. 230,899 4 Claims. (Cl. 217-60) This invention relates to a novel prop for automobile trunk compartment lids and the like.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an efficient, rugged, and readily adjusted device of the kind indicated, which is permanently mounted on the floor of the trunk compartment, and which, when not in use, is adapted to be folded down upon the floor, either along one side of the compartment or crosswise of the compartment, into an out-oftheway position; and which includes means for securely and releasably connecting the prop to the underside of the lid, in an open position of the lid, so that the lid is prevented from bouncing and damaging itself and large packages present in the compartment which are taller than the compartment.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simple device of the character indicated above, which is composed of a small number of uncomplex and easily assembled parts, is easily installed, and which can be mass-produced at relatively low cost, such that the device is adaptable for general installation by automobile manufacturers.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following dcription and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for pur poses of illustration only, speciic forms of the invention are set forth in detail.

ln the drawings:

FGURE l is a fragmentary schematic perspective View showing an automobile trunk compartment with its lid held in an elevated open position to accommodate a package taller than the compartment, by means of a prop of the present invention;

FEGURE 2 is a fragmentary and contracted vertical longitudinal section taken through FIGURE l, showing the prop in a vertical operative position and connected to the lid, in full lines, and in a horizontal storage position on the compartment bottom wall, in phantom lines;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FiGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical transverse section taken on the line of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 5 5 of FGURE 2;

FGURES 6 and 7 are views similar to FIGURE 5, but showing dicrent forms of adjustment retaining means; and

FiGURE S is a view similar to FIGURE 5, but showing cylindrical rather than rectangular cross sections.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like and related numerals designate like and related parts throughout the several views, and first to FIGURES l through 5, the numeral lli designates an automobile trunk compartment having a bottom wall lZ, a back wall i4, and a side wall lo; and a lid 18 hinged at the front of the compartment.

Whenever it is desired to maintain the lid in an elevated open position and prevent it from bouncing, as when a package P, taller than the compartment is to be carried in the compartment, a prop in accordance with the present invention, and generally designated 29, is utilized.

The prop 2i) comprises a U-shaped swivel bracket 22 having a cross member 24 and upstanding parallel legs 26, the cross member being provided with a centered hole 2S which rotatably receives the smooth round shank 36 rice of a swivel bolt 32. The bolt shank has an enlarged head 34, on its upper end, which bears upon the upper surface of the cross member 24, and a reduced diameter threaded stud 36, on its lower end, which receives a securing nut 3?'. A hole 4i), of the same diameter as the hole 28, is formed in the compartment floor or bottom wall 1 2, through which the bolt shank Si? extends. A bearing washer 42 is engaged on the shank, between the bracket cross member 24 and the upper surface of the bottom wall l2, and another washer 4-4 is engaged on the shank between the nut 38 and the undersurface of the bottom wall. The bracket 22 is preferably mounted on the compartment bottom wall l2, adjacent to the back wall 14 of the compartment la?, adjacent to the left-hand side wall lo.

The prop Ztl further comprises a standard which is cornposed of a tubular lower section 46, and a tubular upper section 48, slidably telescoped into the upper end of the lower section. The lower end of the lower section 46 is positioned between the legs 2n of the bracket 22., is spaced above the bolt head 34, and is centrally traversed by a headed pivot pin Sil, which extends through the legs 26. This arrangement enables the standard to be swung to vertical operative position, from storage position, resting upon the compartment bottom wall l2, and return, and rotation, on the axis of the bolt 32, to extend lengthwise or crosswise of the compartment lil, in either erect or storage positions; and enables the standard to be stored, in an out-of-the-way position, along the compartment side wall lo, or along the back wall i4 thereof.

The upper standard section 4E, preferably shorter than the lower section, has secured in and extending above its upper end, the shank 52 of an upstanding snap hook 54, the upper end of the lower section being crimped onto the snap hook shank 52, as indicated at 56, or this shank otherwise secured in place.

Opposed walls of the lower standard section 4d are formed with pluralities of vertically spaced adjustment holes 5S, and the upper section 43 has single holes 64B in opposed walls thereof, through which a retaining means, such as a bolt 62, is adapted to be engaged, which is provided with a head 64 on one end and a wing nut 66 on its other end, for retaining the upper section 48 in a desired extended relationship to the lower section 4d, for holding the lid l at a desired elevated open position.

The snap hook S4 is adapted to be securably engaged through an eye d3 which is secured to and extends downwardly from the lid l, preferably in a position of vertical alignment with the bracket Z2.

The prop 2i) further comprises means for holding the same securely and releasably in storage position on the trunk compartment bottom wall ft2, such as a U-shaped spring catch or slip 70, having a cross member 72, and opstanding spaced resilient legs 74. The legs 74 are formed with vertically spaced horizontal coriugations 76, which functionally grip opposed walls ofthe lower section 46, at a point near its upper end, as shown in FGURES 2 and 4. The cross member 72 of the catch 7@ is fastened to the compartment bottom wall l2, as by means of selfthreading screws 7d.

The prop shown in FIGURES l through 7 is composed of rectangular sections 46 and 4S, while that shown in FIGURE 8 is composed of cylindrical sections 46a and 43a, the props being otherwise similar in construction.

FIGURES 6 and 7 show alternate forms of adjustment retaininU means for the sections of the props, the bolt 62 of FIGURES l to 5 being replaced, in FEGURE 6, by a V-shaped spring 62a, having an uncrimped leg Si) opposed to a leg 82 formed with longitudinally spaced crimps S4, which are adapted to retainably engage the inner surface of the inner or upper standard sections, upon insertion of the spring; and, in FiGURE 7, being Fu a LJ-shaped wire alb, having a curved bight replaced i d paraliel spaced legs S8, and adapted to be portion 36 an A passed endwise through the holes of the sections, so as to put the legs S retainably a inst the opposed outer sides or the. outer or lower stands l section.

lt vill be understood that, while the above described device has been illustrated and described as a prop for a trunk compartment lid, the device is readily susceptible of other adaptations, such as a prop for engine compartment hoods.

Although there have been shown and described preferred forms of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not neeessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes the structure of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within the scope oi the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1, In combination, a compartment having a bottom wall, sidewalls, and end Walls, and a lid for the compartment hinged adjacent one of said end walls, an eye depending from said lid, a prop tor the lid comprising a U-sli pcd bracket havin(y a cross member and upstanding legs, a swivel bolt journaled through said cross member and secured to the bottom wall 0f the compartment, a standard having the lower end positioned between said legs and pivoted thereto, a snap hook fixed on the upper end of said standard and adapted to be releasably secured to the eye on said lid when the lid is in the elevated position, said standard comprising slidably telescoped tubular lo 'er and upper sections, one of said sections being pivoted to said bracket and the other section extending above said one section, and means for retaining the sections in collapsed and extended relationships, said retaining means comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes in one of said sections, the other section having a single hole with which the plural holes are adapted to be selectively registered, and a retaining member extending securably and removably through registered hole said retaining member comprising a bolt.

2. ln combination, a compartment having a bottom wall, sidewalls and end walls, and a lid for the compartment hinged adjacent one of said end walls, an eye depending from said lid, a prop for the lid comprising a U-shaped bracket having a cross member and upstanding legs, a swivel bolt journeld through said cross member and secured to the bottom wall of the compartment, a standard having the lower end positioned oetween said legs and pivoted thereto, a snap hook iixed on the upper end of said standard and adapted to be releasably secured to the eye on said lid when the lid is in the elevated position, said standard comprising slidably telescoped tubular lower and upper sections, one oi sai-r sections being pivoted to said bracket and the other section extending above said one section, and means for retaining the sections in collapsed and extended relationships, said retaining means comprisinrY a plurality oi longitudinally spaced holes in one of said sections, the other section having a single hole with which the plural holes are adapted to be selectively registered, and a retaining member extending securably and removably through registered holes, said retaining member comprising a V-shaped spring having a straight leg and a leg formed with longitudinally spaced crimps adapted to securably engage one of the sections.

3. in combination, a compartment having a bottom wall, sidewalls and end walls, and a lid for the compartment hinged adjacent one of said end walls, an eye depending from said lid, a prop for the lid comprising a U-shaped bracket having a cross member and upstanding legs, a swivel bolt journaled through said cross member and secured to the bottom wall or the con-- partinent, a standard having the lower end positioned between said legs and pivoted thereto, a snap hook fixed on the upper end of said standard and adapted to be releasably secured to the eye on said lid when tite lid is in the elevated position, said standard comprising slid ably telescoped tubular lower and upper sections, one of said sections being pivoted to said bracket and the other section extending above said one section, and means for retaining the sections in collapsed and extended relationships, said retaining means comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes in one of said sections, the other section having a single hole with which the plural holes are adapted to be selectively registered, and a retaining member extending securably and removably through registered holes, said retaining member comprising a U-shaped spring Wire having a curved bight portion and parallel spaced legs, the spring wire being adapted to be passed endwise through registered holes to put the legs at opposed sides of a section.

4. In combination, a compartment having a bottom wall, sidewalls and end Walls, and a lid for the compartment hinged adjacent one of said end walls, an eye depending from said lid, a prop for the lid comprising a i1-shaped bracket having a cross member and upstanding legs, a swivel bolt journaled through said cross member and secured to the bottom wall of the compartment, a standard having the lower end positioned between said legs and pivoted thereto, a snap hook fixed on the upper end of said standard and adapted to be releasaoly secured to the eye on said lid when the lid is in the elevated position, said standard comprising slidably telescoped tubular lower and upper sections, one of said sections being pivoted to said bracket and the other section extending above said one section, and means for retaining the sections in collapsed and extended relationships, said retaining means comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes in one of said sections, the other section having a single hole with which the plural holes are adapted to be selectively registered, and a retaining member extending securably and removably through registered holes, and means for holding the standard along said support in a storage position, comprising a U-shaped spring clip adapted to be mounted to the support in which the standard is releasably engageable.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN COMBINATION, A COMPARTMENT HAVING A BOTTOM WALL, SIDEWALLS, AND END WALLS, AND A LID FOR THE COMPARTMENT HINGED ADJACENT ONE OF SAID END WALLS, AN EYE DEPENDING FROM SAID LID, A PROP FOR THE LID COMPRISING A U-SHAPED BRACKET HAVING A CROSS MEMBER AND UPSTANDING LEGS, A SWIVEL BOLT JOURNALED THROUGH SAID CROSS MEMBER AND SECURED TO THE BOTTOM WALL OF THE COMPARTMENT, A STANDARD HAVING THE LOWER END POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID LEGS AND PIVOTED THERETO, A SNAP HOOK FIXED ON THE UPPER END OF SAID STANDARD AND ADAPTED TO BE RELEASABLY SECURED TO THE EYE ON SAID LID WHEN THE LID IS IN THE ELEVATED POSITION, SAID STANDARD COMPRISING SLIDABLY TELESCOPED TUBULAR LOWER AND UPPER SECTIONS, ONE OF SAID SECTIONS BEING PIVOTED TO SAID BRACKET AND THE OTHER SECTION EXTENDING ABOVE SAID ONE SECTION, AND MEANS FOR RETAINING THE SECTIONS IN COLLAPSED AND EXTENDED RELATIONSHIPS, SAID RETAINING MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF 